Novel delta1-3-desoxyandrostene and delta1, 3-3-desoxyandrostadiene derivatives



United States Patent 3,156,711 NGVEL N-Za-DESOXYANDROSTENE AND A -3- DESOXYANDRUSTADIENE DERIVATIVES Alexander D. Cross and Albert Bowers, Mexico City, Mexico, assignors to Syntex Corporation, Panama, Panama, a corporation of Panama No Drawing. Filed Oct. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,836 17 Claims. (Cl. 260397.5)

The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives and to a process for the production thereof.

More particularly the present invention relates to novel A -3-desoXy androstene derivatives and o -androstadienecompounds.

The novel compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formula:

In the above formula R represents hydrogen or methyl; R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkinyl; and Z represents a double bond or a saturated linkage, each between C-3 and C-4.

The acyl group is derived from hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing less than 12 carbon atoms which may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or cyclic-aliphatic chain, aromatic and may be substituted by functional groups each as hydroxy, alkoxy containing up to 5 carbon atoms, acyloxy containing up to 12 carbon atoms, nitro, amino or halogen. Typical ester groups are the acetate, propionate, enanthate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, t-butylacetate, phenoxyacetate, cyclopentylpropionate, aminoacetate and fi-chloropropionate.

The novel compounds of the present invention represented by the above formula are anabolic-androgenic agents with a favorable anabolic-androgenic ratio. In addition, they have anti-estrogenic, anti-gonadotrophic, anti-fibrillatory and appetite stimulating properties. Furthermore, they lower the blood cholesterol level, relieve premenstrual tension and suppress the output of the pituitary gland.

The novel compounds of the present invention are prepared in accordance with the following scheme:

o5 ed 3,l5h,7ll Patented Nov. 10, 1964 no o5 In the above formulae R, R R and Z have the same meaning as defined hereinbefore.

The starting compound of the process just outlined, which is SB-chloro-N-androsten-l-01 or the 2-metl1yl derivative thereof, is obtained in accordance with Cross et al. US. patent application Serial No. 156,925, filed December 4, 1961, from the corresponding A -androsten- 17,8-01-3-one-acetate by conventional reduction to the corresponding 3fl,-17fi-diol-l7-acetate, treatment with thionyl chloride to form the 3f3-chloro-l7fi-ol-17-acetate, and conventional saponification of the acetate grouping to produce the desired 3,8chloro-A -androsten-17B'ol compound.

In practicing the process exemplified above, the starting Compound (I) is treated with lithium aluminum hydride, preferably in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran, to give the corresponding 3-deschloro-A -androsten-17 8-01 (II: Z=saturated linkage). When the starting Compound (I) is treated with dimethylforrnamide-pyridine, preferably under reflux conditions, there is obtained the corresponding a -androstadien derivative (11: Z=double bond).

The A or A -androstan-l7fi-ol Compounds (II) are oxidized, preferably with chromium trioxide, to the corresponding l7-ketones (Ill). The latter l7-ketones, upon treatment with a lower alkyl magnesium halide under conventional conditions, afford the corresponding 17a-lower alkyl-n -androsten-l'ifi-ol or N -androstadiene derivatives (IV: R =H, R =lower alkyl).

The A -androsten-l7-one or .A -androstadien-l'7-one Compounds (Ill) upon treatment with a l-lower alkine, such as acetylene, in the presence of an alkali metal lower alkoxide, such as potassium t-amyloxide, yield the corresponding l7a-lower alkinyl-n -androsten--01 or A androstadiene derivatives (IV: R =H, R =lower alkinyl), which upon hydrogenation in the presence of a mild catalyst, such as 2% palladium calcium carbonate, yield the corresponding l7tt-lower alkenyLN-androsten-l7[3-ol or M' androstadiene derivatives (IV: R =H, R=lower alkenyl).

The compounds of the present invention having a secondary hydroxyl group, for example in C-17 (II), are conventionally acylated in pyridine with a suitable acylating agent, such as a chloride or an anhydride of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of the type defined hereinbefore, thus affording the corresponding acylates.

The compounds of the present invention having in the molecule a tertiary hydroxyl group, e.g. at C-l7 (TV), are conventionally esterified in the presence of p-toluene- .sulfonic acid with an acylating agent, such as acetic an hydride, caproic anhydride, cyclopentylpropionic anhydride or enanthic anhydride, to produce the corresponding esters.

The following specific examples serve to illustrate, but

are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention:

Example I A solution of 1 g. of 35-chloro-A -androsten-17,8-01- (obtained in accordance with Cross et al. US. pat. appl. Ser. No. 156,925, filed December 4, 1961) in 50 cc. of tetrahydrofuran was added over a 30 minutes period to a stirred suspension of 1 g. of lithium aluminum hydride in 50 cc. of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was refluxed for 2 hours, then cooled and cautiously treated with 5 cc. of ethyl acetate and 2 cc. of water. Solid sodium sulfate was added, the inorganic material filtered off and thoroughly washed with hot ethyl acetate, the combined organic solutions upon evaporation yielded a crude material, which was purified by crystallization from acetone-hexane thus giving A -androsten-17/i-ol.

By the same procedure, Z-methyl- 3B-chloro-A -androsten-17B-ol (obtained according to the aforesaid patent application) was converted into 2-methyl-A -andro sten-17,6-ol.

Example II To a solution of 1 g. of 3e-chloro-A -androsten-17/5- ol in 50 cc. of dimethyl formarnide were added 2.2 molar equivalents of pyridine and the resulting mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. Thereafter it was cooled, poured into water and the obtained precipitate was filtered ofr, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus yielding A -androstadien-175-01.

By the same procedure, 2--nethyl-3,fi-chloro-A -androstan-17e-ol was transformed into 2-methyl A androstadien-17fi-ol.

Example III A solution of 1 g. of A -androsten-17B-ol in 10 cc. of acetone was cooled to C. and treated under an atmosphere of nitrogen and with stirring, with a solution of 8 N chromic acid (prepared by mixing 26 g. of chromium trioxide with 23 cc. of concentrated sulfuric acid and diluting with water to 100 cc.), until the color of the reagent persisted in the mixture. It was stirred for minutes further at 0-5 C. and diluted with water. The precipitate was collected, washed with water and dried under vacuum, thus affording a crude product which upon recrystallization from acetone-hexane gave A -androsten-17-one.

By the same procedure 2-rnethyl-A -androsten-17,8-01, 2-methyl-A -androstadien-17,8-01 and A -androstadien- 1712-01 were converted respectively into 2-methyl-A -androsten-17-one, 2-methyl A androstadien-17-one, and A -androstadien-17-one.

Example IV A solution of 5 g. of A -androsten-17-one in 250 cc. of thiophene-free benzene was treated with 27.5 cc. of 4 N methylmagnesium bromide in ether and the mixture refluxed with the exclusion of moisture for 3 hours. The cooled mixture was cautiously treated with excess aqueous ammonium chloride solution and the product isolated by ethyl acetate extraction. The extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness.

Recrystallization from methylene chloride-hexane afforded 17ot-methyl-A -androsten-17,8-01.

By applying the same procedure to 2-methyl-A -androsten-17-one, Z-methyl A androstadien-17-one and A androstadien 17 one, there were respectively produced 2,17a-dimethy1-A -androsten-1713-01, 2,17a-dimethyl-A -androstadien-1718-01 and 17oc-methy1- A androstadien-17,B-ol.

Example V A solution of 1 g. of A -androsten-l7-one, in 30 cc. of anhydrous benzene was added, under nitrogen, to a solution prepared by dissolving 1.4 g. of potassium in 30 cc. of t-amyl alcohol. A slow current of purified acetylene Example VI A solution of 1 g. of 17a-ethinyl-A -androsten-17B-ol in 40 cc. of pyridine was hydrogenated at 25 C. and 570 mm. in the presence of 4400 mg. of pre-hydrogenated 2% palladium-calcium carbonate catalyst.

When 1.1 molar equivalent of hydrogen had been absorbed, the reaction was stopped, the catalyst separated by filtration through celite, washed with ethyl acetate and the combined solutions evaporated to dryness in vacuo, yielding the crude vinyl derivative. This crude product was dissolved in ethyl acetate, the organic solution washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and water to neutral, dried and evaporated to dryness. Recrystallization from acetone gave 17a-vinyl-A -androsten-17/3-ol.

By applying the same procedure to 2-methyl-17otethinyl A androsten 17;? ol, 2 methyl-lh-ethinyl- A androstadien 175 01 and 17a-ethinyl A -androstadien-17fl-ol, there were respectively obtained Z-methyl- 17a vinyl A androsten 17/3 ol, 2 -methyl cvinyl-A -androstadien--01 and 17ot-viny1-A androstadien-17f3-ol.

Example VII A mixture of 1 g. of A -androsten-17fl-ol, 4 cc. of pyridine and 2 cc. of acetic anhydride was kept at room temperature overnight, poured into ice water, the formed precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. Crystallizaiton from acetone-hexane gave A -androsten- 17 9-01 acetate.

Following the same procedure, there were treated 2- methyl-A -androsten-17fl-ol, 2-methyl-A -androstadien- 175-01, and A -androstadien-175-01, thus giving respectively Z-methyl-N-androsten-l7/3-01 acetate, 2-methyl-A androstadien-Up-ol acetate and A -androstadien-17/3-ol acetate.

Example VIII The starting compounds of Example VII were treated following exactly the procedure described in that example, except that acetic anhydride was substituted by caproic anhydride, propionic anhydride, enanthic anhydride and cyclopentylpropionic anhydride thus affording respectively the corresponding caproates, propionates, enanthates and cyclopentylpropionates of said starting compounds.

Example [X To a solution of 5 g .of 17a-methyl-A -androsten-17fi-o1 in 100 cc. of anhydrous benzene there were added 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 10 cc. of caproic anhydride and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature, poured into ice and water, and the resulting mixture stirred to effect hydrolysis of the excess anhydride. The benzene layer was separated and washed with 10% sodium carbonate solution and water. Drying, evaporation and crystallization of the residue from ether-hexane produced 17a-methyl-A -androsten-175-01 caproate.

The starting compounds listed under A, were treated in accordance with the above procedure, thus affording the products set forth under B.

2,17a-dimethyl-N-androsten-UB-ol 2,17a-dimethyl-A -androsten-flflo1 caproatc. 17a-ethi11y1-A -androsten-17fl-ol 17a-ethinyl-A -androsten-flfi-01 oaproate. 2-methyl-17a-et11inyl-A -androsten- 2-methy1-17a-ethinyl-A -and.rostenl7fl-ol. 173-01 caproate. 17a-vinyl-A -androstez1-l7B-ol 17a-vinyl-A -androsten-17fl-ol caproate. 2-1nethyl-17a-vinyl-A -androsten- 2-methy1-17a-vinyl-A -andrsten- 17 -01. 176-01 caproate. 17a-n1ethyl-A -androstadien-17B- l7a-methyl-A -a.ndrostadien-17B- 01. 01 eaproate. 2,17a-dimethyl-A fi-androstadien- 2,17a-dimetl1yl-A -androstadien 17 17B-o1caproate. l7a-ethinyl-A -androstadien-HB- l7 rx-Gth1I1Y1-A fi-androstadien-Nfi- 01 01 caproate.

17 nr-vinyl-A -androstadien-17B-0l 17x-viny1-A andIostadien-Hfio1 caproate.

Z-meth y1-17a-vinyl-A -androstadien-17B-ol caproate.

2-methy1-17a-vinyl-A -androstadien-HB-ol.

Example X The starting compounds of Example IX were treated following exactly the procedure described in that example, except that caproic anhyride was substituted by acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, enanthic anhydride and cyclopentylpropionic anhydride, thus affording respectively the corresponding acetates, propionates, enanthates and cyclopentylpropionates of said starting compounds.

6 I claim: 1. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than twelve carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, and lower alkinyl; and Z is a member of the group consisting of a double bond and a saturated linkage, each between C-3 and C-4.

A -androsten-17fl-ol. Z-methyl-N-androsten-17B-ol. A -androstadien-l7fi-ol. Z-methyl-A -androstadien-175-01. 17a-metl1yl-A -androsten-17,8-01. 2, 17a-dimethyl-A -androsten-17 6-01. 17a-ethinyl-A -androsten-17/3-01. Z-methyl-17a-ethinyl-A -androsten-175-01. 10. 17a-vinyl-A -androsten-1713-01. 3o 11. Z-methyl-17a-vinyl-A -androsten-175-01.

12. 17a-methyl-A -androstadien-175-01. l3. 2,l7a-dimethyl-A -androstadien-17(3-01. 14. 17a-etl1inyl-A -androstadien-175-01. 15. Z-methyl-17a-ethinyl-A -androstadien-17 8-01. 16. 17a-vinyl-A -androstadien-17fi-ol.

17. 2-methyl-17a-vinyl-A -androstadien--01.

pa ses-awe No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 